School, 43 Margaret St. . PIOs shouldA. compile a go kit to allow for lengthy deployments to a long-term incident. What events nationally and globally are in the news? Use the media area for all media releases and conferences. What is happening in other areas? Monitor to determine if the media coverage is: Whether or not your organization is using social media, you should still monitor it. Providing information and access to newsmakers. Media pools are used to restrict access to an area due to space limitations or safety issues. A news release should be used when an activity or incident is newsworthy based on: News releases should be printed on your organizations letterhead and include a header with contact information (name and number), date, and a news release number. The PIOs primary responsibility to organizational leadership as an advisor is to: A. Studies show that people read differently online than when they read printed materials, therefore, when you write for the Web or social media you should: A. hb```"g@($CC4i9"Mp1:u3;;:*&d@|Hh 9C$,;30K2=e$b00 D! 'Ss S>*2MbX^f For more information on the Public Information Officer training program, contact FEMA-Master_PIO_Program@fema.dhs.gov. Now that youve got a goal statement, the next step is to create messages in support of the goal that are suited to your target audience. Social networking sites are online communities that connect people. Tammy Kikuchi: The response was overwhelming. For example: Active voice is clear, direct, and concise. The news media and local government ask the community to send videos and photos via social media, email, and text messages. Identify how messages should be conveyed. Blogs are Web sites that allow you to engage in a conversation with readers. It was absolutely the very best thing we could have done. Develop a picture of who you want to reach with your message by asking: Now that you know what you want to communicate and to whom you will communicate, next you need to develop and implement your campaign. Verdi White: The way that we set this particular operation up is we took the Incident Command System and made it an overlay onto the National Guard that had the infrastructure to be able to do all the functions that we needed to accomplish to do this, and of course one of the central components of, of an incident command system is the public information piece. A. But all four occupants miraculously escaped and the 45-year-old dad told the Ventura County Star: We thank God that were alive, regardless of what we lost up there.. Making sure community members understand the events that unfold during severe weather, pandemics, and non-emergency scenarios . Questions to answer when evaluating a public awareness campaign include the following: You can collect data about your campaign in different ways. The 95/5 concept relates to non-emergency and emergency PIO activities 95% of most PIOs' work is in non-emergency times, with only 5% directly related to incident response or recovery. Contact local, tribal, territorial, and State press associations to obtain media lists. This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the whole community regarding the importance of being prepared for an incident. 18. Many times the site of a crisis or disaster may be considered a crime scene and needs to be processed by forensic units. . Hundreds are so ill that they end up being admitted to the hospital. Walter Monsour: So, the message was managed extremely well. Dont date your materials by using the year or referring to news events that will become out-of-date quickly. These people are your target audience. The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. Communication with internal agency personnel is A. not a role undertaken by a PIO. Please note that the is program now requires a fema sid to be used instead of your ssn. The five (5%) segment of the 95/5 concept B. downtime when working an emergency. C. blue sky time but makes no difference in credibility. +O,))8+l"O{i9"5QKh^R7YH'gI@P+,,#+pbH,ZJt-9#)*~{"Dxu When preparing written products, it is important that your message is understood. The goal of this awareness course is to provide an orientation to the public information function and the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the public safety/emergency management environment. Prior to establishing the location for this media area, ask yourself the following questions: Another method you may need to employ to manage the situation is a media pool. if you do not have a sid, Test questions are scrambled to protect test integrity. The benefits of social media include the following capabilities: New social media tools are being developed and implemented all the time. IS-0029.a Public Information Officer Awareness Well, were here to answer that question for you, and hopefully share a few tips about preparing forrealemergencies too! * The social media links provided are for reference only. Smith activated the State Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates State firefighting efforts in these situations. B. In their haste, each suffered minor injuries, including stitches for their son who cut his ankle on the glass of the first floor window. PDF Public Information Officer - FEMA PDF NIMS Basic Guidance for Public Information Officers - FEMA In a crisis, getting the right information to the right people at the right time is more important than catching a dangling participle! 0 If you hope to work with schools, plan well in advance to coordinate with their schedules and curriculum. Additionally, students conduct various public information activities and exercises, to include writing messages and conducting press conferences. Narrator: While responding to disasters, Mayor Holden and his staff began to realize that many of the issues they faced repeatedly could be eliminated if the public was better prepared. AZ Department of Health Services Directors Blog. . The table below summarizes what you need to provide for a print story, and identifies the advantages and limitations of print. The following table shows what you need to provide for a television story, the advantages of television, and its limitations. Angie Welling: Pretty much every State agency was involved, and thats when we found out pretty early on that the Governor had involved every aspect of State government. The press saw it. Serves as a press secretary for the Agency Executive or Senior Official during the incident. Communicate information to enable people to prepare for an incident and to make decisions during an incident to protect lives and property. What do you want people to know or do after hearing your message? (Unit 2), Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. Effective public communication involves collecting, verifying, and disseminating information to your target audiences. The media will want to get as close as possible to get pictures/audio/interviews. Blogs are a good tool to use to communicate with your audience. Policies for evolving media (e.g., who can post, what can be posted, how to respond to negative comments, etc.). An important part of your role as a PIO is to communicate with your community before something happens. They heighten awareness of community hazards and encourage the public to take steps to become more prepared. Provide public information, emergency public information, and community education to your internal and external target audiences. And thats not all. Brian Hyer: We had all kinds of questions. B. report to the Finance/Admin Section Chief when arriving at an incident. This awareness-level training is suitable for new PIOs. Some important considerations to effectively use evolving media include developing: Now you have an understanding of the advantages and limitations of traditional and evolving media. 1. * Redundancy is important in case the computer you are using doesnt have an available or operating USB port or CD drive. Gather, verify, coordinate, and disseminate public information in an emergency from a Joint Information Center. For each of these toolstelevision, newspaper, radio, news briefings, and evolving mediayou need written products. This lesson introduced you to the steps to create a preparedness campaign: These steps will help you develop a campaign that will inform the whole community about the importance of being ready and preparedness steps to take. This lesson presents information on how to use your tools and relationships to communicate information to the community when something happens. What actions and resources are being used to achieve the objectives? Coming back after the fire to retrieve them, their ghostly shadows left indelible evidence of the inferno that swept through their home. News releases are one of the most commonly used tools for PIOs. The successful PIO develops credibility and builds relationships with the media by consistently: More information on media relation skills and managing the media is presented in Lessons 3 and 5. Managing Public Information for All-Hazards Incidents (MPI) is a four-day course that provides students with the practical knowledge of the role of the Public Information Officer, the National Incident Management System, emergency communications methods, risk communication, and interpersonal skills. Set up interviews and write talking points C. Be an intermediary between leadership and the news media D. Assess situations for public information implications, 14. Establish contact with other agency PIOs. A news conference or briefing may be used when you want to: A news conference or briefing may be announced by using a press release or media advisory. That you will get them information and be back to brief themand then do so. This course introduces PIOs with no, or limited, experience to the basic skills and tools needed to communicate effectively with the public. Primary audience: FEMA IS-29.A is designed for the new or less experienced state, local, tribal and territorial PIOs or those who have this role as a secondary function. Develops a strategy or plan for handling the incident, monitors it in process, and adjusts the plan as needed. To help you in monitoring conversations on social media sites, you may want to use a social media monitoring tool or social media dashboard. Proactivity occurs during A. They have access to the officials. Select this link to access a printable . This awareness-level training is suitable for new PIOs. But its not just preparedness information that the mayor and his team also have a plan for, they also have focused on how to provide critical and accurate information during an emergency by including every emergency response agency in the Emergency Operations Center the EOC and embedding the media in the communication process. Coordinate information being distributed to ensure consistency with other agencies messages. Campaign topics can range from recruiting volunteers to fire safety. What is the community sentiment toward your organization or the issue? %PDF-1.6 % Evolving media (Web sites, email, blogs, social networking sites, etc.). EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. User: The Public Information Officer: A. Interfaces with the public and media and/or with other agencies regarding incident-related information requirements. Use jargon to communicate with your target audience B. 1955 0 obj <>stream Select the correct definition External Affairs A. Coordinates the release of accurate, coordinated, timely, and accessible public information to affected audiences, including the government, media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector B. News releases should provide accurate, factual information that is attributed to its source. A theme that begins in this course and is carried throughout the Public Information Training Series, the 95/5 concept A. is a management concept unique to public information management. Now that you have some tips for better writing, lets look at how to write a news release. The JIS is a system that ensures coordination and integration of information across jurisdictions, organizations, and agencies during an incident. Demonstrating an understanding of media needs and operations. There are also professional social networking sites with sections for jobs. Look at the audience, but dont lock eyes with any one person and dont look into the camera. They can be used for personal networking, professional networking, and sharing public information. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. 1943 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<9229C3A5CD7F8A409FF242859AD01E9B>]/Index[1928 28]/Info 1927 0 R/Length 89/Prev 779652/Root 1929 0 R/Size 1956/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream This process includes: Your goal statement expresses what you hope to achieve through your campaign. This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the media and the whole community. The good news is that preventing heat related illness is easy to do if you just use common sense. Conduct research to determine which tool is best to meet your agencys needs. Year in and year out, nearly 1,400 Arizonans get heat related illnesses so serious that they end up in an emergency department. Describe the role and function of the Public Information Officer (PIO). . As the PIO, you must know your organizations role in an emergency and have emergency management knowledge, including: This lesson introduced you to your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). Use natural gestures, but dont cross your arms, raise your eyebrows, shrug your shoulders, sway, or bounce. Develop relationships with other organizations PIOs B. Sit on your coat tail to keep your jacket from riding up. 140-character stand-alone micro-blog statements. Time will also impact the shelf-life of your campaign. Consider your resources and your role in ICS. This is a release that you post online. Keep the subject and verb close together. PIOs need to have a complete understanding of the community's demographics in order to: A. Who is likely to be affected by the hazard or threat? Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 Describe how to manage the news media at the scene of an incident. For different audiences, you may need to write different products. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Public Information Officer (PIO) training program is designed to provide PIOs with the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities to support proper decision-making by delivering the right message, to the right people, at the right time. The Public Information Officer is responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?. Lieutenant Doug McCleve: So what we felt like it would be best to do is provide a one-stop calling center for the news media to be able to access whoever they needed to in this process. What do they already know about the topic? You have many resources available to ensure that the information reported about an event and your organization is true and accurate. What will you change in future campaigns? Emergency management knowledge including an understanding of NIMS, ICS, the JIS, and the JIC. Admissions Fax: (301) 447-1658, Independent Study Program Uses correct grammar and contains no spelling or punctuation errors. Traditional media (print, radio, television). Each time this test is loaded, you will receive a unique set of questions and answers. Recognize various legal aspects associated with emergencies and public information. Themes weaved throughout the series include the 95/5 concept and an emphasis on whole community strategic communication planning. Do you follow through? They knew that they werent being led down another road, that they were hearing things unfiltered. Public information is a vital function in disaster operations that contributes greatly to saving lives and protecting property. C. only required when dictated by the Incident Commander. One of the advantages of the Incident Command System (ICS) is: A. Weve all seen at least one movie about flesh-eating zombies taking over (my personal favorite isResident Evil), but where do zombies come from and why do they love eating brains so much? At the completion of this lesson you should be able to: Public awareness campaigns are ongoing public education programs that PIOs use to inform, educate, and increase organizational visibility. Emergency Management Institute Contact commercial vendors to identify contacts and the process for news releases. Providing good public information helps people make the right decisions at the right time and can instill public confidence in the organization, which is primarily important because: Emergency Manager jobs 33,535 open jobs Successful blogs are compelling and current, and encourage interaction with readers. Coordinate access to policymakers and others (e.g., first responders and disaster survivors). endstream endobj startxref Generally, there is no review before modifications are accepted. Do they have special communication needs (e.g., visual or hearing impairments, or limited English proficiency)? Serves as an advisor to the Incident Commander. Selects the right tools for the messages. 50% C. 25% D. 5%, 9. 3 Step Guide for Assistance, Federal Emergency Management Agency | Emergency Management Institute, Notice to Applicants for EMI or NFA Courses, How to apply for a FEMA Independent Study course (Online Course), How to apply for a course held in EMI (On-Campus Course), Non-Resident Courses (EMI Courses Conducted by States), National Standard Exercise Curriculum (NSEC), Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP), Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP), National Incident Management System (NIMS), Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC), Disaster Field Training Operations (DFTO), Schools Multihazard and Mass Casualty Planning, Virtual Table Top Exercise (VTTX) (Sites participate from home via VTC), Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, Exercise Simulation System Document (ESSD), Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, Please review the IS FAQ's for more information, IS-29 Public Information Officer Awareness, E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer, Master Public Information Officer Program, Special collection: Emergency Management Institute student papers, E/K0389 - Master Public Information Officer Implementing Communications Strategies for Whole Community Leadership, E/K0393 Master Public Information Officer Applying Advanced Concepts in Public Information and Communications, E0394 Master Public Information Officer Mastering Public Advocacy Plans to Create an Effective Community of Stakeholders. Once again, we see a fire threatening our citizens and their homes. B. cause the intended audience to act on requests in the message. Increased information needs can be handled. Promote government programs and activities B. This course should take approximately 7 hours and 25 minutes to complete. Wear your uniform or neat, conservative attire if not in uniform. Make it less likely that your release will be cut C. Impress people in the target audience D. Be a barrier to communication, 22. All goals should have a target date for completion. In your communication strategy, identify how you will use social media by itself and together with traditional media to prepare your community for emergencies, and to provide them with life-saving information when an incident occurs. Refer to the list below. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. if4-0lP,H^F1!P`8FF@T br.afQP0G@U@} )F%H (wtP9 lF `PFn*Lks]k^s9LgsXxh|s ]bpa Provide information and updates in a timely manner. Print medianewspapers and magazinesare the first type of mass media developed. Describe traditional media available for communication. A well-executed interview will likely not A. advance leaderships goals. Access to you and the newsmakers or persons in charge. Determines what the public needs to know. Imagine your living room exploding in flames and your family cut off from the only door down the stairs from your second-floor condominium. Additionally, it can provide those in executive-level roles with the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. Using acronyms in news releases may:A. Tammy Kikuchi: Having the Joint Information Center for this event was critical. It also helps identify the target audience for a particular public awareness campaign. Continue to monitor the weather., Example 3:4 Shelters remain open: MassMutual Ctr, 1277 Main St. Springfield; Quarry Hill Comm. Final Exam for: IS-29.a: Public Information Officer. This demonstrates how social media are now an integral part of our lives and a valuable part of the PIOs toolkit. Having clear goals is the foundation for your campaign. B. is not bound by public record laws. Consider information about the whole community when identifying topics, including: There is no point in conducting a hurricane preparedness campaign if your area is not subject to hurricanes. In a span of, I think, 2 months, we took in roughly about almost three thousand kids at various sites to talk to them about different safety things. The Governor declared the emergency following a similar declaration by Liberty County. Below are some, but not all, of the critical skill sets learned during this training program: Personnel who are assigned or may be designated to perform public information duties during an incident, emergency, or disaster and anyone in a response discipline who may be assigned or designated to perform public information duties. Lesson 3 introduced the importance of establishing relationships with the media. This lesson presents information on tools you can use in support of your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). Better yet is the number of people who call and request preparedness kits! An important difference in these evolving media is that anyone can report the informationit could be a reporter, you, someone in your organization, or anyone in the public. University of California, Merced hiring Public Information Officer Your organization may have other format preferences, such as single-spaced and one-page only. D. Identify opportunities for public awareness campaigns. Some tips for speaking publicly and improving your responses (or assisting and preparing a speaker) are: When distributing written products or speaking to the media, you will often need to work with a person to get your information out. This physical site is called the Joint Information Center (JIC), and is the location where: Narrator: When the State of Utah began to accept evacuees from the Gulf States as a result of the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, they implemented a Joint Information Center. With passive voice, the subject is thereceiverof the action. The subject is the. D. seek media release approval from the Communication Unit Leader., 24. Note: Often micro-blogs will provide links to Web sites or social networking sites for more information. Include email addresses and Internet sites for the media contact. The rise of zombies in pop culture has given credence to the idea that a zombie apocalypse could happen. Social media sites help disaster survivors look for lost family members and pets, and provide information on where to get assistance, where to find shelter, and how to give aid. Office: (301) 447-1200 Fax: (301) 447-1201, (800) 621-FEMA / TTY (800) 462-7585 IS-29.A: Public Information Officer Awareness - FEMA A social networking site is a great tool for: Now you know about the many tools available to get your message out. Members of the media do not want to interfere with these tasks, but if they can get close enough to observe and/or photograph they will be happy. The public information officer for an organization A. should clear all public documents with neighboring agencies before release.